Prefabricated counter sections and assemblies thereof



A ril 29, 1952 1-. H. SWISHER PREFABRICATED COUNTER SECTIONS ANDASSEMBLIES THEREOF 2 SHEETS SHEET '1 Filed NOV. 4, 1948 INVENTOR ThomasH. Swisher M, Oe/w vis April '29, 1952 T. H. SWISHER 2,594,516

PREFABRICATED COUNTER SECTIONS AND-ASSEMBLIESTHEREOF Filed NOV. 4, 19482 SI-lEETS-Sl-IEET 2 I 32 6 GM 7 "TI 60 VII/MW v GIG I43 Q 51 FIG. 4 26le 6lh 62 en 64 em 61 64 I 22 1-2 1: vv fiiah fiix um 3m fi 4:INVENTOR. 105 '3 g 3' Thomas H. Swisher 02a ion \0! Hon \Olu BY I ma M,060% M Patented Apr. 29, 1952 PREFABRIQATED GOUNTER SECTIONS: ANDASSEMBLIES THEREOF Thomas Hr Swisher,. Elmhurst, Ill.,. assignor toHotpoint. Inc., a. corporation at New York Application November 4, 1948,Serial No. 58,286

into Patent No. 2,586,112: ofE-ebruary 1.9, 1952.

It is a. general object of the present invention to provide amanufactured standard counter section and a number of cooperatingmanufactured standard counter fixtures so that a counter assembly of therequired configuration to fit a particular kitchen may be. readilyfashioned on the site from the manufactured standard, elements mentionedutilizing ordinary carpenter tools.

Another object of the invention is to. provide a counter section ofimproved construction and arrangement and including an integral plasticsheet having an. outer surface. provided with a smooth, harm,continuous, moisture-resistant fi-nish..

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangementor theelements. of the kitchen counter-assembly and, to theconstructional details of the elements, whereby the aboveoutlined andadditional operating features thereof are attained.

The; invention, both as. to its: organization and method of operation,together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best beunderstood by reference: to the following specifica tion taken inconnection with the accompanyin drawings, in which Figure 1V is a.perspective view of two kitchen cabinet. sections and; a. corner mullionprovided with a counter assembly embodying the present invention; Fig..2 is an enlarged bottom view of the counter; assembly shown in. Fig 1;Fig. 8 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of thecounter assem: bly taken in the direction of the. arrows along the line3-4 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary verticalsectional view of the counter assemblytaken in the direction of thearrows along the line 4--4 in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is: a greatly enlargedfragmentary plan view of the counter assembly shown in Fig. 1 takenat-the joint between the rightshand counter section and the cornercounter section; Fig. 6 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary vertical,sectional view of the counter assembly taken at the joint between theright-hand counter section and the. corner coun ter section in the.direction of the arrows alon enlarged fragmentary end view of thejoining sv Claims. .(01. 312-1403) trim; incorporated in the Jointbetween the righthand-counterscction. and the cornercounter section asshown in Fig, 5.

Referring; now to Fig, 1 of the drawing. there are illustrated two.-kitchen cabinet sections 2| and. 3| and a. corner mullion 41- providedwith a counterassembly H, embodying; the features of the presentinvention. More particularly, the corner mull-ionlsl is: adapted to bearranged in the corner of a. kitchen and the cabinet sections 2| and 3|:are adapted to be arranged on either side thereof: along the. walls ofthe kitchen, the cabinet 21 comprising the left-hand; section and thecabinet. 3|: comprising the right-hand seco ecifically; the abinet,section 21. m y be formed of sheet. metal and comprises an upstandingbody defining a. storage; cabinet having an open front closed by twohinged doors 22... The top of: the cabinet section 2|: supports thelefthand section oi? the. counter assembly and the lower front portionthereof is rearwardly' off-set, as indicated at. 23, to provide afoot-receivin recess permitting a person to work close to the front edgeor apron of the left-hand counter section. Similarly the cabinet section3| may be formed of sheet metal and comprises an upstanding bodydefining a storage cabinet having an open front closed by two hingeddoors 32. The top of the cabinet section 3| supports the right-handsection of the: counter assembly H; and the lower front portion thereofis rearwardly off-set, as; indicated at. 33, to. provide afoot-receiving recess permitting a. person to work close to the frontedge or apron of, the right-hand countersection. Also. the cornermullion 4| may be formedv of sheet metal. The top: of they cornermullion, 4| supports the corner section of the counter assembly' H; and.the lower front portion thereof is rearwardly off-set, as indicated atv43 to provide a. foot-receiving recess permitting a person to workclose. to the front edge or apron of the corner counter section.

The counter assembly comprises a left-hand straight section 5.0-, aright-hand straight. section 60', a corner section 1-0, a leftiehandend; trim 80, a right-hand end trim. 90.. and two joining trim 100. The.Straight. counter sections and 60, are

of identical construction; while the corner countorsection. [0 is ofthe. same fundamental construction as the. straight. counter sections 50and 60. The end trims B0 and {9,0 are of the. same generalconstruction,v respectfl t ly left-hand and right-hand;; whilethe-joining:t1'ims I00 are of the 1ine-6.--6 in Fig. 5; and Fig 7' is agreatly identicalconstructionl Each of the counter s'ections 50, B0 and10 comprises a body sheet that includes a, substantially horizontal workplatform section terminating in a downwardly extending front apron and asubstantially vertical rear backsplasher section terminating in arearwardly directed ledge, the front apron being substantiallyvertically disposed and the rear ledge being substantially horizontallydisposed. Accordingly, the right-hand end of the left counter section 50matches the left-hand end of the corner counter section 10 and thelefthand end of the right counter section 60 matches the right-hand endof the corner counter section 10.

Specifically, the right counter section 60 comprises the body sheet 6|providing the substantially horizontally disposed work platform section6|a terminating in the vertically disposed front apron section 6|b, andthe substantially vertically disposed backsplasher section 6|terminating in the substantially horizontally disposed ledge section6|d. The front of the work platform section 6la is joined to the top ofthe apron section 6 b by arounded transition section 6|e; the rear ofthe work platform section 6|a is joined to the bottom of thebacksplasher section 6|c by a rounded transition section 6| 1; and thetop of the backsplasher section 6|c is joined to the front of the ledgesection 6|d by a rounded transition section 6| g. The front of theplatform section '6la is preferably upwardly inclined slightly, asindicated at 6'|h',"i'n order to prevent water, or the like, spilledupon the work platform section 6|a from running over the transitionsection 6|e and thence down the front of the apron section 6|b onto thefloor of the kitchen.

Also, each of the counter sections 50,"60-and 10 comprises a firstre-enforcing' member disposed below the front portion of the workplatform section; a second re-enforcing member disposed below the ledgesection; and three spacedapart stringers disposed below the workplatform section; which re-enforcing members and stringers are embeddedin the body sheet of the counter section.

Specifically, the right'counter section 60 comprises the first re-enforcing member 62, the second re-enforcing member 63 and the threestringers 64 embedded in the body sheet 6|. More particularly, the firstre-enforcing member 62 extends longitudinally with the'body sheet 6| andis substantially L-shaped in cross section, being disposed below the'fro nt of the work platform section Bla and behind .the apron sectionBIZ and under the transition; section 6|e. The second're-enforcingmember 63 extends longitudinally with the body sheet 6| and is disposedbelow the ledge section 6 Id and'under the transition section My behindthe top of the backsplas'her section 6lc. Finally, the stringers 64extend longitudinally with the body sheet 6| and are arranged inlaterally spaced-apart relation below the work platform section 6|a anddistributed between the first re enforcing member 62 and thebacksplasher section 6 lo.

Preferably, the left and right counter sections 50 and 60 are cut from astraight previously manufactured length" of counter section, .while thecorner counter sectionl0'is expressly manufactured in its final form.The standard lengths of counter section from which the left and rightcounter sections'50 and 6B are cut may be manu-' factured in standardsections such, for example, as from 4 to 10 feet long, and fromthesestandard lengths -':the left and right counter' sections 50 and 60 arecut on the site to'fit theparticular 4 cabinets 2| and 3|, and thenassembled with the corner counter section 10 to provide the counterassembly II for the particular kitchen, as explained more fullyhereinafter.

The straight lengths of counter section from which the left and rightcounter sections and are cut comprise an integrally molded or formedbody sheet made, for example, of paper base. phenolic resin laminate, orthe like, and

provided "with an outer surface finish made of melamine resin, urearesin, etc. and embedding the two re-enforcing members and the threestringers. Specifically, with reference to the right counter section 60,the integral body sheet 6| may comprise a core formed of about 35 percent phenolic resin impregnated paper of about five-mil thickness,cross-laminated for even pull. The outer surface of the core may beprovided with a melamine resin impregnated barrier sheet of abouteight-mil thickness, incorporating any desired color and decorativepattern. The outer surface of the barrier sheet may be provided with amelamine resin impregnated bond over-sheet of about five-mil thicknessin order to protect the barrier sheet. The two re-enforcing members 62and 63 and the three stringers 64 directly engage the lower surface ofthe core, and a lower layer is provided that envelops the two re'enforcing members 62' and 63 and the three stringers 64 and is unitedwith the intermediate portions of the core; which lower layer is alsoformed of about 35 per cent phenolic resin impregnated paper of aboutfive-mil thickness. Finally, the lower surface of the lower layer may beprovided with a melamine resin impregnated cover sheet of abouteight-mil thickness for the purpose of balancing the body sheet 6|against subsequent warpage.

Preferably, the composite body sheet 6| with the two re-enforcingmembers 62 and 63 and the three stringers 64 are formed as a compositearticl'e in a suitable heated die in which the core, the barrier sheet,the over-sheet, the lower layer and the lower cover sheet'are cured andunited under heat and pressure. The over-all thickness of the compositebody'sheet 6| at the backsplasher section 610 and at the portions of thework platform section 6 la disposed between the stringers 64 and there-enforcing member 62 may be about inch in thickness so that it issufilciently strong'to be shape-retaining and so that any square'foot'of the work platform section 6m is capable of: withstanding a loadof-approximately pounds; The finished exterior surface of the body sheet6| is continuous, smooth, hard and of any desired color to carry out acolor scheme in a kitchen. Also, the finished exterior surface of thebody sheet 6| is capable of resisting moisture, mild'food acids,alkaline cleaning compounds and other materials normally encoun' teredina'kitchen; The finished exterior surface of the 'body sheet 6| doesnot feel cold to a persons hands and, being impervious to moisture, issanitary. Further, the finished exterior surface resists abrasion, isnot easily cut during normal kitchen use, is'he'at resistant and is notdiscolored or deteriorated in any way by ordinary hot objects such, forexample, as cooking vessels, orthe like, havinga temperature up toapproxim ately'300-F. Further, the body sheet 6|" is free ofobjectionable metallic rings or other sounds, and is capable of beingperforated, cut and fitted without-fracture, chipping or. otherdeformation; utiliz'ing"ordinary carpenter tools. Finally, the bod-y'sheet 6| is substantially free tion I0 may be manufactured in severaldifferent standard sizes; however, in one size of kitchen counterassembly II and with particular reference to the right counter section00, the dimensions may be as indicated below. The distance between thefront of the apron section GI!) and the rear edge of the ledge section61d may be inches; the distance between the lower edge of the apronsection Glb and the top of the front of the work platform section Blamay be 1 /2 inches; the front edge of the work platform section E-la maybe disposed above the remainder thereof at the transition section file adistance of A; inch; the distance between the top of the work platformsection 6I1a and the top of the ledge section em may be 6 inches; andthe distance between the front of the backsplasher section Sic and therear edge of the ledge section 6H2 may be 3 inches.

The construction of the corner counter section I0 generally conforms tothat of the standard lengths of counter section from which the left andright counter sections 50 and 60 are cut; however, the construction isslightly modified to fit the corner of the counter assembly II.Specifically, the body sheet II of the corner counter section I0comprises a front apron section Ilb that is curved between the endportions thereof, a backsplasher section I I c that is curved betweenthe straight end portions thereof, and a ledge section 'IId providedwith angularly disposed straight portions. Also, the body sheet IIcomprises a work platform section Ho and has imbedded in the lowersurface thereof first and second re-enfo'rcing members I2 andI3 andthree stringers I4. In this case the first re-enforcing member I2 iscurved and is disposed below the front of the work platform section I Inand behind the apron section Ilb. The second re-enforcing member I3comprises two angularly disposed portions mitered at the jointtherebetween and disposed below the ledge section I Id, and behind thebacksplasher section IIc. Finally, each of the three stringers I4comprises two angularly disposed portions mitered at thejointtherebetween and disposed below the work platform section I I a,

Further, the counter assembly comprises a plurality of transverselyextending sills III, 2, H3, H4 and I5 formed of kiln-dried poplar, orother suitable wood, and secured to the first reenforcing members and tothe stringers of the various counter sections 50, 60 and I0 by woodscrews IZI. Specifically, the sill II I is arranged below the left-handend of the left counter section 50 and secured to the firstr'e-en-forcing member 52 and the stringers 54' thereofby the wood screwsI'2I; while the sill H5 is arranged below the right-hand end of theright counter section 60 and secured to the first re-enforcing member 62and the stringers 34 thereof by the wood screws I2I. The sill H2 isarranged below the joint between the right-hand end of the left countersection 50 and the left-handend'of the corner counter section I0 and issecured to the first re-enforcing members 52 and I2 and to the stringers54 and I4 by the wood screws I2l; the sill I I I is arranged below thejoint between the left-hand end of the right counter section 60 and theright-hand end of the corner counter section I0 and is secured to thefirst re-enforcing members 62' and I2 by the wood screws I2I. Finally,the sill H3 is arranged below the central portion of the corner countersection I0 and is secured to the first re-enforcing member I2 and thestringers I4 by the wood screws I2 I.

Each of the joining trims I00 may be formed of extruded aluminum, or thelike, and comprises a laterally extending work platform section I0!terminating in a downwardly extending front apron section I02, and anupwardly extending bac-ksplasher section I03 terminating in a rearwardlyextending ledge section I04; the sections IOI and I02 being joined byacurved transition section I05, the sections WI and H13 being joined bya curved transition section I06, and the sections I03 and I94 beingjoined by a curved transition section I0I. The dimensions of the varioussections IOI, etc, are properly correlated with respect to thedimensions of the corresponding sections Bla, etc, of the countersections 69, etc, as explained more fully below. The upper edge of thejoining trim I00 comprises a trim element I08 that projects outwardly oneither side thereof and includes a substantially horizontally disposedwork platform trim section I00a, a substantially vertically disposedfront apron trim section I081), a substantially vertically disposedbacksplasher trim section I 080, a substantially horizontally disposedrear ledge trim section W801, and transition trim sections I08e, I08)and IBM. Also, a number of spaced-apart openings I0 Ia are provided inthe section IOI, a hole Him is pro' vided in the section I02, and a holeIMa is provided in the section I04; which openings and holes areutilized for purposes more fully explained below.

Each of the joining trims I00 carries a number of spaced-apart securingclips I3! arranged in the openings I0 Ia and supporting the workplatform sections of the adjacent body sheets. For example, the joiningtrim I00 arranged in the joint between the counter sections 60 and I0carries the securing clips I3! in the openings Mia and respectivelyengaging the adjacent work platform sections Ma and I Id of the bodysheets BI and II Specifically, each of the securing clips I3I is formedof spring steel, or the like, and comprises a centrally disposed saddleI32 engaging the section I M of the finishing trim I00 in one of theopenings Ho, and upwardly and outwardly extending curved ends I33 andI34 respectively engaging the underneath portions of the work platformsections Bid and lid of the counter sections 00 and I0, whereby the workplatform sections Ma and Ha are drawn upwardly into snug engagement withthe overlying work platform trim section I08a of the joining trim I00.Accordingly, the finishing trim I00 provides a finished, watertightjoint between the countersections 60 and I0.

Also, the counter assembly II comprises a plurality of upstandingbrackets MI supporting the backsplasher sections Sic, etc., and theledge sections GI-d, etc., of the counter sections 60, etc.

Preferably, one of the brackets MI is arranged at each end of eachjof'ythe counter sections 50, 60 and I0 and at the center of the cornercounter section '70, whereby several of the brackets I II areincorporated in the counter assembly The brackets |4| may be identical;and, as best shown in Fig. 4, the bracket |4| that is arranged at theleft-hand end of the right counter section 60 adjacent to the associatedfinishing trim I is formed of sheet metal and comprises an upstandingbody |42 having an opening I43 formed therein to accommodate wiring, orthe like. Also, the bracket |4I comprises an upper end flange I44, alower end flange I45 and a front flange I46. This bracket MI is arrangedbetween the rear end of the sill II 4 and the second re-enforcing memberI33 and is secured in place by upper wood screws I41 and lower woodscrews I48. More particularly, the screws I41 extend through openingsprovided in the upper end flange I44 and are threaded into the lowersurface of the second re-enforcing member 63 while the screws I48 extendthrough openings provided in the lower end flange I 45 and are threadedinto the upper surface of the sill II4. When the bracket MI is thussecured in place between the second re-enforcing member 63 and the sillII4, the front flange I46 thereof engages the rear suface of the bodysheet 6| behind the backsplasher section G Ic, whereby both the ledgesection 6|d and the backsplasher section 6Ic are supported.

The left end trim 80 may be formed of sheet aluminum, or the like, andcomprises a dished body 8| of substantially L-shaped configuration. Thebody 8| comprises an inwardly turned lower flange 82 secured to the sillII I by a plurality of wood screws 83 and an inwardly turned uppertrimming flange 84 conforming to the configuration of the body sheet ofthe left counter section 50. Likewise, the right end trim 90 may beformed of sheet aluminum, or the like, and comprises a dished body 9| ofsubstantially L-shaped configuration. The body 9| comprises an inwardlyturned lower flange 92 secured to the sill I I5 by a plurality of woodscrews 93 and an inwardly turned upper trimming flange 94 conforming tothe configuration of the body sheet 6| of the right counter section 60.

In order to produce the counter assembly I I in the kitchen, the cornermullion 4| is first placed in the corner of the kitchen and the left andright cabinet sections 2| and 3| are placed closely adjacent theretoalong the left-hand and the right-hand Walls of the kitchen. Thepreviously manufactured corner counter section '10 is provided and thetwo joining trims I00 are secured to the opposite ends thereof utilizingWood screws, or the like, extending through the holes |02a and "Ma.Next, the left counter section 50 and the right counter section 60 arecut from the previously manufactured straight length of counter sectionutilizing an ordinary carpenters wood saw. The counter sections 50 and60 are then assembled to the counter section III, all in an invertedposition on the floor of the kitchen. At this time the clips I3I arepositioned in the openings IDIa formed in the joining trims I III inorder to support the work platform sections of the body sheets of thethree counter sections 59, 60 and III. The sills III, H2, H3, H4 and 5are then brought into proper position and secured in place by the woodscrews I2I. At this time the sill I I2 securely joins the countersection 50 to the counter section III; and the sill I I4 securely joinsthe counter section 69 to the counter section III. Next, the sevenbrackets |4| are brought into position between the rear ends of therespective sills III, etc., and the respective second re-enforcingmembers 53, etc., and secured in place utilizing the wood screws I41,I48, etc. At this time the assembled counter sections 50, 60 and III areplaced upon the corner mullion 4| and the cabinet sections 2| and 3| inthe corner of the kitchen. Any inaccuracy in the walls of the kitchenmay be accounted for by appropriately trimming the rear edges of theadjacent ledge sections 6|d, etc., so that the ledge sections 5|d, BIdand H11 nicely fit the walls in the corner of the kitchen. At this timewood screws, I I4a, etc., are inserted from the interior of the cabinets3| and 2| through openings provided in inturned flanges arranged at thetop of the cabinets 3| and 2| and threaded into the sills I I4 and I I2in order securely to retain the counter sections 50, 60 and 10 in placeand to retain the cabinet sections 2| and 3| and the corner mullion 4|securely in position. The left end trim is then positioned on theleft-hand end of the counter section 50 and the right end trim ispositioned on the right-hand end of the counter section 60 and securedin place utilizing wood screws. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the right endtrim 99 is secured in place by the Wood screws 93 extending through thflange 92. Also, the screws 93 extend through openings provided in theinturned flange 3Ia arranged at the top of the right cabinet section 3|in order securely to retain in position the righthand end of the counterassembly 60, the right end trim 90 and the right-hand end of the rightcabinet section 3|.

In conjunction with the manufacture of the corner counter section 10 atthe factory, it is pointed out that the sills H2, H3 and H4 and thebrackets I4| may be incorporated therein in order to lend rigiditythereto. Likewise, in the manufacture of the straight counter sectionsat the factory from which the left and right counter sections 50 and 69are cut, it is pointed out that the sills III, ||5, etc., and thebrackets |4| may be incorporated therein in order to lend rigiditythereto. Specifically, each of these straight counter sections maycomprise a sill at each end thereof and one or more intermediate sills,each provided with a bracket I4I Accordingly, at the site the sills andbrackets incorporated in the manufactured corner counter section 'IIIand in the straight counter section from which the left and rightcounter sections 50 and 60 are out may be removed and again utilized inthe final counter assembly II, in the manner explained above.

In view of the foregoing it is apparent that there has been providedimproved manufactured standard counter sections and a counter assemblythat may be fashioned at the site from the counter sections and othermanufactured standard elements in a simple and expedient manner. Also itis apparent that the skeleton construction of the counter assemblyprovides maximum strength and. rigidity with a minimum amount ofmaterial and at a low cost.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be thepreferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood thatvarious modifications may be made therein and it is intended to cover inthe appended claims all such modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of manufacture comprising a unitary counter sectionincluding a longitudinally extending plastic body sheet having acontiuous smooth moisture-resistant outer surface, said body sheet beingform-retaining and providing a substantially horizontal work platformand an upstanding backsplasher, a first longitudinally extendingre-enforcing member for-med ofgwood and disposed below and adjacent tothe front of said work platform and embedded in said body sheet, asecond longitudinally extending re-enforcing member formed of wood anddisposed behind and adjacentlto the top of said backsplasher andembedded in said body sheet,

' and a plurality of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apartstringers each formed of wood and disposed below said work platform andembedded in said body sheet.

2. An article of manufacture comprising a unitary counter sectionincluding a longitudinally extending plastic body sheet having acontinuous smooth n1oisture-resistant outer surface, said body sheetbeing form-retaining and providing a substantially horizontal workplatform terminating in a downwardly directed front apron and anupstanding backsplasher terminating in a rearwardly directed ledge, afirst longitudinally extending re-enforcing member formed of wood anddisposed mutually below said work platform and behind said front apronand embedded in said body sheet, a second longitudinally extendingre-enforcing member formed of wood and disposed mutually behind saidbacksplasher and below said ledge and embedded in said body sheet, and aplurality of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apartstringers each formed of wood and disposed below said work platform andembedded in said body sheet.

3. A counter section comprising a longitudinally extending plastic bodysheet having a continuous smooth moisture-resistant outer surface, saidbody sheet being form-retaining and pro viding a substantiallyhorizontal work platform terminating in a downwardly directed frontapron and an upstanding backsplasher terminating in a rearwardlydirected ledge, a first longitudinally extending re-enforcing memberformed of wood and disposed under said body sheet mutually below saidwork platform and behind said front apron and embedded in said bodysheet, a second longitudinally extending reenforcing member formed ofwood and disposed under said body sheet mutually behind saidbacksplasher and below said ledge and embedded in said body sheet, aplurality of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apartstringers each formed of wood and disposed under said body sheet belowsaid work platform and embedded in said body sheet, a plurality oflaterally extending and longitudinally spaced-apart sills each formed ofwood and disposed below and secured to said first re-enforcing memberand said stringers, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apartupstanding metal brackets disposed between and secured to said secondre-enforcing member and said sills.

4. A counter assembly comprising a support; two counter sections carriedby said support and having ends disposed adjacent to each other; each ofsaid counter sections including a plastic body sheet having a continuoussmooth moistureresistant outer surface, said body sheet beingform-retaining and providing a substantially horizontal work platformand an upstanding backsplasher, a first re-enforcing member secured tothe under portion of said body sheet below and adjacent to the front ofsaid work platform, a second re-enforcing member secured to the underportion of said body sheet behind and adjacent to the top of saidbacksplasher,

and a plurality of spaced-apart stringers secured to the under portionof said body sheet .below said work platform; 'a sill positioned betweensaid support and the adjacent ends of said counter sections and securedto said'support and said first re-enforcing members andsaid stringers;upstanding brackets positioned between said sill and the adjacent endsof said counter sections and secured to said sill and the adjacent endsof said second re-enforcing members; and a joining trim positioned inthe joint between the adjacent ends of said counter sections and securedthereto, said joining trim conforming to and overlying the adjacent endportions of said work platforms and said backsplashers.

5. An article of manufacture comprising a unitary counter assemblycorner section including a plastic body sheethaving a continuous smoothmoisture-resistant outer surface, said body sheet being form-retainingand providing a substantially horizontal work platform terminating in adownwardly directed front apron and an upstanding backsplasherterminating in a rearwardly directed ledge, said front apron and saidbacksplasher and said ledge each being curved between the two angularlydisposed end portions thereof, a first re-enforcing member formed ofwood and provided with angularly disposed portions and disposed undersaid body sheet mutually below said work platform and behind said frontapron and embedded in said body sheet, a second re-enforcing memberformed of wood and provided with angularly disposed portions anddisposed under said body sheet mutually behind said backsplasher andbelow said ledge and embedded in said body sheet, and a plurality ofstringers each formed of wood and each provided with angularly disposedportions and disposed in spaced-apart relation under said body sheetbelow said work platform and embedded in said body sheet.

6. An assembly comprising two supports having ends disposed adjacent toeach other; a sill positioned over the adjacent ends of said supports atthe joint therebetween and secured thereto in order to retain saidsupports in fixed relation with respect to each other; two countersections respectively carried by said supports and having ends disposedadjacent to each other and positioned on said sill; each of said countersections including a plastic body sheet having a continuous smoothmoisture-resistant outer surface, said body sheet being form-retainingand providing a substantially horizontal work platform and an upstandingbacksplasher, a first re-enforcing member secured to the under portionof said body sheet below and adjacent to the front of said workplatform, a second reenforcing member secured to the under portion ofsaid body sheet behind and adjacent to the top of said backsplasher, anda plurality of spaced-apart stringers secured to the under portion ofsaid body sheet below said work platform; means for securing said sillto the adjacent ends of said first re-enforcing members and the adjacentends of said stringers; two spaced-apart brackets respectivelypositioned between said sill and the adjacent ends of said countersections; and means for securing each of said brackets to said sill andthe adjacent one of said second re-enforcing members.

7. The counter section set forth in claim 3, wherein said brackets alsoengage and support the adjacent rear portions of said backsplasher.

8. The counter assembly set forth in claim 4;

11 and further comprising a plurality of spring fasteners carried bysaid joining trim and engaging the adjacent under portions of said bodysheets below said work platforms in order to provide a finished jointbetween the adjacent ends of said counter sections.

THOMAS H. SWISHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Otte et a1. July 4, 1933 Brey Apr. 28, 1936 BreyApr. 28, 1936 Connaty et a1. Nov. 19, 1907 1 Number Number 21,328/35Name Date Dalton Sept. 1, 1936 Madsen May 16, 1939 Rosenberg July 18,1939 Oster Jan, 2, 1940 Madsen Apr. 21, 1942 Rosenberg Aug. 24, 1943Sandberg Aug. 29, 1944 Geimer June 19, 1945 Stanitz Apr. 6, 1948 Mosheret a1. Ju1y'19, 1949 Gilbert et a1. Oct. 11, 1949 Norquist Jan. 30, 1951FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Australia Feb. 13, 1935

